THOMPSON, Connecticut (June 1, 2017) – Versatile driver Tanner Foust and the Rockstar Energy Drink Volkswagen Beetle are favoured for a podium return as the Global Rallycross Championship heads east for a brand new doubleheader stop in New England.
This weekend’s course at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park offers an unusual mix of features, incorporating a counter-clockwise run on part of a high-banked oval, a long dirt transition, an unusual kicker in addition to the series’ traditional 70-foot jump, and a few turns of the facility’s permanent road course.
“The track looks really interesting. I’m hoping there’s a benefit to our team in having the experience of racing on a lot of different surfaces,” said Foust. “Maybe we can find a little bit of an advantage on all that dirt.”
The driver’s diverse motorsport background includes rally, rallycross and drifting, as well as sports car and open-wheel competition. He is a two-time champion in both Global Rallycross and Formula Drift.
Foust heads into the third and fourth rounds of the GRC championship second in the points behind teammate Scott Speed. He says all credit for the early season success is due to the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team.
“I believe one of the reasons we’re the team to beat is that our engineers are very good at helping Scott and me make good ‘best guesses’ on car setup before we ever lay eyes on the track,” said Foust. “GRC is unique in that you get to know the car and its capabilities really well but you can’t know the tracks because they’re purpose-built from scratch every weekend. Even when we’re at an established racetrack, like Thompson, we’re doing something different and the first time you see the course is race day.”
Foust is a long-time rallycross competitor who started competing in the sport in Europe before its introduction to the United States. He recently returned from a trip overseas where he helped to celebrate the 50th anniversary of rallycross at Lydden Hill, the UK track where it was created.
“I raced Lydden Hill every year for eight years and it was great to go back and catch up with everyone there — even if I didn’t get a chance to drive this time,” said Foust. “After a weekend of watching racing, I’m definitely excited to get behind the wheel again in New England.”
This weekend’s back-to-back Global Rallycross Championship races air live on NBC Saturday and Sunday, starting at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
ABOUT TANNER FOUST
Tanner Foust is a versatile and multi-talented driver known for his supreme car control and a proven track record of podium placements, national championships and world records. He is a three-time U.S. rallycross champion (2012, 2011, 2010) who has also won four X Games gold medals (2013, 2010, 2007), and two Formula Drift championships (2008, 2007).
He has held multiple world records including for the astonishing Hot Wheels Double Loop Dare, which saw Foust drive a car through a 66-foot loop-the-loop. He scored the indoor speed record for TV’s Top Gear USA, and set a distance jump record with Hot Wheels when he made a 332′ ramp-to-ramp leap in a truck at the Indy 500.
His varied race experience also includes multiple years of open wheel competition, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, rally racing, various types of sports car racing and the SCORE Baja. He has represented the USA in the annual Race of Champions three times, teaming with NASCAR star Carl Edwards in 2008, Travis Pastrana in 2009, and Mick Doohan in 2010.
When he isn’t racing, the professional driver also performs on television and handles stunt driving in popular films, TV shows and commercials. He is featured as a stunt driver in Need 4 Speed, as well as other major releases including the Bourne Legacy, Bourne Ultimatum, Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, Dukes of Hazzard, Red Dawn and Iron Man 2.
ABOUT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc., an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWoA) is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. VWoA’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. VWoA sells the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, CC, e-Golf, Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan and Touareg vehicles through approximately 652 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online atwww.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.
ABOUT ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT
Based in Indianapolis and led by racing legend Michael Andretti, Andretti
Autosport boasts a wide racing portfolio rooted in tradition and designed for
success. Together with Andretti Formula E and Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross,
Andretti Autosport fields multiple entries in the IndyCar Series and Indy
Lights, along with entries in the FIA Formula E Championship and Global
Rallycross. The company boasts four IndyCar Series championships (2004, 2005,
2007, 2012), two Indy Lights titles (2008, 2009), one Pro Mazda championship
(2013) and one USF2000 championship (2010) and has captured victory at the
famed Indianapolis 500 four times (2005, 2007, 2014, 2016). Additionally the
team holds two X Games Gold Medals and one Global Rallycross championship
(2015). To share in the Andretti story, please visit online at AndrettiAutosport.comand follow
along on Twitter via @FollowAndretti.
ABOUT ROCKSTAR
Rockstar Energy Drink is designed for those who lead active lifestyles — from athletes to rockstars. Available in over 25 flavors at convenience and grocery outlets in more than 30 countries, Rockstar supports the rockstar lifestyle across the globe through action sports, motor sports, and live music. More at www.RockstarEnergy.com
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